Shoe



H. H. JOHNSON SHOE Filed Nov.

Sept. 10, 1946.

Patented Sept. 10, 1946 -1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE Harry H. Joh'nson, Brookline, Mass. Application November 8, 1944, Serial No.562,439

This invention relates to improvements in footwear and to solestructures for use therein.

In certain kinds of footwear such as ladies evening slippers of thesandal type, mules, and the like, a rigid shank is usually employed tomaintain the proper relation between the sole and heel, the latterfrequently being of the Louis variety. If an instep strap is provided tosecure the shoe to the foot, the strap must be left quite loose asotherwise it will bind and chafe on the instep when the wearer walks.Consequently, when the wearer flexes the ball of the foot in taking astep, the heel of the wearer lifts away from the heel portion of theshoe sole, and the heel of the shoe clatters'on the floor as the foot isswung forward for the next step. Furthermore, when the foot which haslifted away from the heel portion of the sole descends again, it isliable to be offset to one side or the other so as to strike first on aside rim of that part of the sole, as a result of which the foot is aptto tire quickly. Such footwear well illustrates the objectionablefeatures which my invention eliminates. a

It is an object of the invention to avoid thes troubles by providingspring means in the shank for causing the heel portion of the shoe toremain in contact with the heel of the wearer during walking, dancing orthe like. According to the invention, a spring or its equivalent isincorporated in the shoe in such a manner as to tend to cause the soleto flex at the junction of the ball and shank so as to decrease theangle of the sole at said junction, that is, in such a manner as to tendto elevate the heel if the ball portion of the sole is held flat againstthe floor. This causes the heel portion of the shoe sole to remainagainst the heel of the wearer when the foot is flexed as in walking ordancing.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be hadto the following description of certain embodiments thereof, and to thedrawing, of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an evening slipper or sandal, a portionbeing broken away to show in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same in flexed position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Figure l is a side elevation ofa modified form of the invention, partlybroken away to show in section.

Figure 1 shows an evening shoe or slipper of the sandal type comprisinga sole structure consisting of an outsole [0, an insole l2 and a sock- 6Claims. (Cl. 362.5)

lining M. This shoe has a Louis heel It so that when the tread surfacesof the sole i0 and the heel I6 are in a common plane (as when in actualengagement with the floor) the angle between the top surface of the ballportion 13 and thetop surface of the shank portion 29 is approximately130.

According to the invention, aresilientelement 22 of spring metal,plastic, fiber, or othersuitable material is mountedin or on the solestructure of the shoe in such a way as to tend to maintain the shank andheel portions of the sole at a materially steeper angle of inclinationwith respect to'the ball portion'of the sole than the correspondingangle in an ordinary shoe of the same size and style when off the foot.Thus, as shown, the spring means 22 may have a forward portion 24secured by tacks, rivets or other means in the ball portion 18' of thesole between the outsole l0 and the insole I2. The rear portion 26 ofthe spring is preferably free and ex-' tends rearwardly up the shankportion of the sole, preferably terminatingforward of the heel portionof the sole; as indicated in Figure 1. The intermediate portion of thespring has therein a bend such that when in the position shown in Figure1, the rear portion 26 presses upward so that if the ball portion of thesole is held down and the heel portion released, thelatter is raised andlifts the heel off the floor, as indicated in Figure 2. This conditionexists when the foot of the wearer is flexed in walking or dancing. Theweight of the wearer holds the ball portion of the shoe against thefloor while the heel of the wearer rises to release the heel of theshoe. The effect of the spring action then is to cause the heel portionof the shoe to rise with the heel of the wearer, and to remain inengagement therewith. As indicated in Figure 2, the spring may fiex thesole so that the angle between the ball and shank portions is decreasedto approximately 110 or even less. Since a shoe heel weighs little anddoes not have to be lifted far to follow the heel of the wearer, a lightspring will suflice.

The springs illustrated in the drawing are shown disproportionatelythick for clarity.

In order to avoid rapid wear of the insole [2 where it is pressed by thefree end portion 26 of the spring element 22, I may provide a wear plate30 on which the end of the spring may slide readily when the sole isflexed, the plate 30 being preferably secured by tacks or otherwise.

The invention is particularly advantageous in shoes having Vamps or toestraps 40 entirely or substantially unconnected with the heel portion ofthe shoe except by the sole itself. It is efiectiveand desirable evenwhere, as illustrated, the shoe is provided with a heel strap 42 and aninstep strap 44, or equivalent rigging. Such straps cannot be set uptight enough to be effective without causing objectionable binding anddiscomfort.

The spring 22 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 as built into the. shoe. Theinvention can also be readily applied to an already completed shoe. Forexample, as indicated in Figure 4, the spring may be secured outside ofthe outsole H], the spring having a bend tending to elevate the heel.

In the foregoing embodiments of the invention, the resilient element,which is a part of or is added to the sole of the shoe, causes the heelportion of the shoe sole to cling to the heel of the wearer so thatwalking, dancing, etc. are made easier, and fatigue is greatly reduced.

The foregoing description. of certain embodiments of the invention is byway of illustration and.not limitation, and. it isto be understood thatthe invention includes whatever variations and, modifications of form orstructure may come Within the-scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1 In an article of footwear, a sole structure whichhas ball, shank andheel portions and has aspring means incorporated within the ball and.shank. portions thereof and of such a strength and configuration as toresiliently maintain said shank and heel portions of the sole at amaterially steeper angle of inclination with respect to said ballportion than the corresponding angle in an ordinary shoe of the samesize and style when oif the foot, said spring means-having a forwardportion in the ball of the sole, a. flexibly resilient intermediateportion and a rear portion extending rearwardly well into the shankportion of the sole, wherebywhen said footwear is wornv said springmeans inherently presses the shank portion of the soleresilientlyagainst the foot and tends to elevate the'shank and heel portions of thesole at alltimes during walking.

2. In an article of footwear, a sole structure as set forth in claim 1,wherein the rear portion of the spring means terminates forward of theheel portion of the sole.

3. In an article of footwear, a sole structure as set forth in claim 1,wherein the forward portion of the spring is substantially wider thanthe rear portion.

4. In an article of footwear, a sole structure as set forth in claim 1,vwherein'theforward portion of the spring means is rigidly fastened tothe ball portion of the sole.

5. In an article of footwear, .a sole structure which has ball, shankand heel portions and has a flexibly resilient means incorporated withinthe .bal-land shank portions thereof and of such a strengthandconfiguration as to resiliently maintain said shank and heel portions ofthe sole at amaterially steeper angle of inclination with respect to theball portion than the corresponding angle in an ordinary shoe of thesame. size and style when off the foot, whereby when saidtfootwear isworn saidflexibly resilient means in the sole inherently presses theshank portion of the sole. resiliently against the foot and inherentlytends to elevate the shank and heel, portions of the sole at all timesduring walking.

6. In an article of footwear, a sole structure which has ball, shank andheel portions, said heel.

portion having a heel member projecting down therefrom with a treadsurface adapted to be brought in use in line, with the tread surface of.said ball portion, an intermediate part of said. sole structureconsisting of mutually contiguous parts of said ball and shank portionswhich are flexibly resilient and of such strength-and configuration asto elevate inherently said heel member sothat its tread surface ismaterially above the plane of the tread surface of said ball portion ofthe sole when the article of footwear is off the foot, whereby duringwalking the sole is inherent- Iy flexed by said, intermediate partthereof to maintainthe shank and heel portions. resiliently against thefoot at all times.

HARRY H. JOHNSON.

